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Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden<\/strong> has praised Liz Kendall<\/strong>\u2019s handling of her government brief amid a rebellion by Labour MPs over welfare reform plans.<\/p>\n Asked on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme how long she could stay in her job if she could not convince Labour MPs to vote alongside the government, McFadden said \u201cLiz Kendall is doing an excellent job.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued:<\/p>\n She has been central to the development of these reforms.<\/p>\n She has argued for them, not as a difficult choice, but as the right choice, because she believes in a welfare state that should be there for people.<\/p>\n Because she\u2019s not comfortable about 1,000 people a day signing on for Pip and us just watching that number grow.<\/p>\n And because she\u2019s absolutely passionate about getting more help and support to long term sick and disabled people who could work if they had that extra help and support, and right now, under the unreformed system, they don\u2019t have that.<\/p>\n Share<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer has confirmed that a second British evacuation flight will leave Israel today.<\/strong><\/p>\n He told the Commons the first RAF flight took place on Monday \u201cand I can confirm to the House now that we will fly another today\u201d.<\/p>\n He told MPs: \u201cWe are providing support and advice to more than 1,000 British nationals as they seek to leave the region by land and air. We have deployed teams to Israel, Cyprus, Egypt and Jordan. Our embassy in Tehran has been temporarily withdrawn but continues to provide support for British nationals in Iran remotely.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Prime minister Keir Starmer<\/strong> has said that Iran and Israel must \u201cget back\u201d to a ceasefire state. As he travelled to the Nato summit in the Netherlands, PA Media reports he told the media:<\/p>\n I want the ceasefire to continue, and therefore, obviously, the sooner we get back to that the better, and that\u2019s the message that I\u2019m discussing with other leaders today. We\u2019ve got a ceasefire. We need to get back to that ceasefire, which is consistent with what I\u2019ve been saying about de-escalation for quite some time now.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Faiza Shaheen<\/strong> from the LSE has written for the Guardian opinion desk today, arguing that the so-called \u201cBritannia card\u201d policy announced by Nigel Farage<\/strong>\u2019s Reform UK vehicle yesterday \u201cpromises to enrich the poor, [and] simultaneously offers a subtle tax break to the wealthiest\u201d. You can read her argument here.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Colum Eastwood<\/strong>, who is SDLP MP for Foyle, has posted to social media to say he has added his name to the Reasoned Amendment to wreck Labour\u2019s welfare bill. He said:<\/p>\n I\u2019ve co-signed the Reasoned Amendment to decline a second reading to the Welfare and Pip Bill alongside more than 100 other MPs. The bill is a cruel and unconscionable attack on vulnerable people. We\u2019ve tried to raise concerns, including directly with the prime minister. These plans are worse than the Tory welfare system. It will have a devastating impact on communities like Derry where we have 17,000 people on Pip because they need additional support to manage their disabilities. We have to do everything we can to fight these brutal cuts.<\/p>\n Former transport secretary Louise Haigh<\/strong> has also posted a message about the amendment this morning, saying:<\/p>\n Disabled people have not been consulted and we have not given enough time for the government\u2019s reforms on employment support to work. In the middle of a cost of living crisis, we cannot risk a rushed Bill taking money off disabled people.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n We are expecting two ministerial statements in the Commons today. At 12.30 there will be a statement from chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden<\/strong> on national security strategy. At 1.30 we will hear from foreign secretary David Lammy<\/strong> on the China audit. Prior to that it is questions for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs ministers.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Senior Conservatives this morning have been backing a campaign by Neil O\u2019Brien<\/strong>, MP for Harborough, Oadby & Wigston, to ban phones in secondary schools.<\/p>\n Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch<\/strong> shared a video he had posted on social media, saying \u201cEvery teacher and pupil I meet says the same: ban smartphones in classrooms. They\u2019re disruptive, harm mental health, and damage learning. Keir Starmer says it\u2019s not needed yet only one in ten secondary schools are phone-free. This is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n Every teacher and pupil I meet says the same: ban smartphones in classrooms. <\/p>\n They’re disruptive, harm mental health, and damage learning. <\/p>\n Keir Starmer says it\u2019s not needed yet only 1 in 10 secondary schools are phone-free. This is so important. <\/p>\n Please give this a watch. https:\/\/t.co\/HgubVqcCF7<\/p>\nSecond British evacuation flight from Israel confirmed by minister<\/h2>\n